ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State fell to Southern Nazarene 58-50 inside the Duke Wells Center. The Reddies are now 11-9 overall and 8-6 in GAC play.
 
Abbie Jiles was HSU's top scorer with 14 points and had a team-high three blocks and three steals. Both Jiles and Eryka Patton led the team with six rebounds, while Patton also had the second most points with eight. HSU shot 38.6 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from three-point.
 
Jiles opened the scoring for HSU, but quick baskets from SNU put the Crimson Storm up 8-4. The Reddies went almost six minutes without finding the basket in the first period, which allowed Southern Nazarene to jump to a 19-4 advantage. Henderson trailed 23-10 after the first ten minutes.
 
The Reddies' defense tightened up in the second period, holding the Crimson Storm to four points. SNU scored two early baskets but would be held scoreless for the last seven and a half minutes of the frame. While Southern Nazarene struggled to find the basket, Henderson began chipping away at SNU's lead with a 10-0 run to trail by one, 27-26, at halftime.
 
Sonni Martin connected from deep to give the Reddies the advantage, 29-27 at the start of the second half. Back-to-back layups from Patt0n and a jumper from Martin kept Henderson in front, 35-30.
 
Three minutes passed where neither side scored a point before SNU broke the drought with a made free-throw. Martin scored her fifth point of the frame at the foul line as HSU led 38-35 after three periods.
 
Southern Nazarene closed the gap on Henderson's lead, tying the game at 42 all. The game stayed close in the opening minutes, with the score coming to a tie again, 44-44, with 5:01 left in the period.
 
A 6-0 run by Southern Nazarene switched the advantage to the Crimson Storm as they now led 48-44. SNU went on another run, outscoring the Reddies 6-0, and would eventually close out the game 56-50.
 
Henderson State (11-9, 8-6) stays at the Duke Wells Center for its next game against Oklahoma Baptists on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.